While you think you may know everything about Clapton, you'll still
find lots to learn in this documentary, made with his blessing and
participation, but not his interference. Director Lili Zanuck was given
access to all the footage and photos he'd been storing up, and carte
blanche for a story line. Clapton doesn't really have much to hide, as
he told all, quite painfully, in his autobiography several years back,
so the all the booze, drugs, infidelity, obsession and heartache was
already on the table. What Zanuck was able to to do was invite more
people to give their observations. They don't pull punches, especially
exes. A real find was one of his oldest friends, an early bandmate from
his first groups, The Roosters, one Ben Palmer, who stayed around as
Cream's road manager, and then a friend. He's able to bring us lots of
insight into what drove Clapton. Also Clapton's aunt, who witnessed some
of the terrible hurt his mother caused in his life, was able to show
how that trauma affected him through his adult life. In the end though,
it's Clapton himself who has the best perspective, able to sift through
all the lies and failings in his life, the wasted years as an addict and
alcoholic, and his inability to form a genuine relationship, until
conquering all those demons after the death of his son, Conor. The film
really ends with the release of the cathartic Tears In Heaven, except
for some well-earned accolades and his significant charity work, but
that's okay, we get the point that he got his act together and the drama
largely ended.
Friday, June 15, 2018
MUSIC REVIEW OF THE DAY: ERIC CLAPTON - LIFE IN 12 BARS (Blu-ray or DVD), LIFE IN 12 BARS (Soundtrack)
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